Legal

 Taiwan firm J&J Attorneys-at-Law's nine lawyers have joined the Taipei office of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis (K&L Gates). With offices…

 Vladimir Furman and Dina JarmukhanovaMcGuire WoodsIn the absence of a treaty, Kazakhstan will not recognize or enforce judgments of the PRC courts.…

Huaneng Power International has completed an approximately HK$26 billion (US$3.3 billion) acquisition of SinoSing Power from Huaneng Group, including cash…

Adam LiJun He Law Offices2007 witnessed the dramatic change of China's legislation and regulations landscape concerning the acquisition of businesses…

Last year saw the promulgation of the Employment Contracts Law and the Employment Promotion Law, both of which work towards strengthening employee rights. The new laws build on the existing PRC Labour Law and make clarifications regarding open-ended contracts, employee rights in the workplace, trade unions and equal opportunities laws. As employers and employees are now adjusting to the new laws, more clarification is needed in order for them to be successfully implemented.

The new circular issued by the CBRC represents a step towards the wider acceptance of commodities futures transactions, helping banks generate more business, provide more flexibility in gold trading, and improve competitiveness. The various conditions, application procedures and other requirements are extensive; while there are still some concerns about the operation of the new regulation, it is a step in the right direction.

China is now the largest franchise market in the world, and the 2008 Olympic Games has the potential to further expand this market. In respect of merchandizing, the BOCOG has utilized the franchise model to an unprecedented level. China's IP laws have been in substantial compliance with international standards for several years now, but enforcement has been a problem. The Olympic Games has forced the Chinese government to implement the groundwork for effective IPR protection.

IP infringement is still one of the greatest challenges for the Chinese government. Leading international and local law firms have been involved in many significant cases, which show how the IP system in China is evolving.

The pharmaceutical industry in China has been expanding in recent years as the government strives to invent its own drugs and brands. However, the prevalence of counterfeit and generic drugs still remains a significant IP issue. The patent system needs further development before it will be able to properly protect patent holders.